Apparatus for purifying water for steam-generators.



no. 697,838. Patented Apr. l5, I902.

A. GRAY. APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER FOR STEAM GENERATORS.

(Application filed Sept. 12. 1801.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets'8heet I.

"rm: NORRIS Pawns co PNOYO-UTHQ, WASHINGTON. D, c.

No. 697,838. Patented Apr. I5, 1902.

A. GRAY.

APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER FOR STEAM GENERATORS.

(Application filed Sept. 12, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE Nonms warms co, Moran-mo" wumncwu. n. c.

Urmrn STATES ATENT FFICE.

ALEXANDER GRAY, OF NElVOASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO THOMAS THOMPSON, OF BLACKHEATI-I, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER FOR STEAM-GENERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,838, dated April15, 1902. Application filed September 12,1901; Serial No. 75,165. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER GRAY, consulting engineer, a subject ofthe King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 1 SouthParade,Newcastle-upon-Tyne, En gland,have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying ater for Steam-Generatorsand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The primary object of my invention is to remove from the feed-waterproduced from condensed steam the oil or other impurities which itinvariably contains before it is again evaporated into steam in theboiler, and, further, to cause any solid foreign substances held insuspension in the feed-water to be expelled with the oil, at the sametime liberating the air into the steam-space.

My invention may be applied to any form of boiler; but as it isespecially adapted to water-tube boilers of any of the well-known typesI will so describe it.

The apparatus will be preferably entirely contained in the steam andwater space or drum into which the evaporating-tubes deliver; but it maybe fitted to suit special circumstances in a separate vessel between thefeed-pump and the boiler. It consists of a vessel fitted inside theboiler or being separate therefrom, into which the feed-water isdelivered by a feed-nozzle, in which nozzle is provided an arrangementfor causing the feedwater to have a whirling motion given to it as it isdelivered by the feed-pum p to the waterdrum, the object of which is tokeep the surface of the water on which the oil or other impurities arefloating in constant agitation. Above the feed-nozzle and just below thewater-level is a pipe, forming part of a scumming apparatus, leadingoutside to any suitable receptacle or overboard. The vessel whichsurrounds the feed nozzle and the mouth of the scum-pipe will preferablybe of cylindrical form suspended vertically, the lower part submerged inthe water and the upper part in the steam-space, so as to keep separatethe entering feed-water in agitation from mixing among the steam mixedwith water entering from the evaporating-tubes,- and may be open at bothends or partially closed at the lower end or entirely closed at thebottom,with one or more pipes or passages 5 5 up the sides giving fixedwater-level in vessel irrespective of levelin boiler, and itmay also bepartly closed at top. The feed-pipe from the pump and the surface scumor oil discharge may all be fitted with regulating 6o cocks or valves,to be opened or closed, as required, and with a water-gage to show thewater-level. I have found that oil or other impurities mixed with thewater of condensed steam, also impurities in spring and sea watel, ifkept in constant agitation or circulation and subjected to a hightemperature, rise to the surface and are readily collected by thescnmming apparatus, and thus blown out.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows the upper portion of a water-tube boiler, suchas of the Babcock type, in which the water mixed with steam aftertraversing the tubes is delivered into a cylindrical steam and waterdrum in which is placed the purifying apparatus. Figs. 1, 1 and 1 showdifferent methods of construction of the purifying vessel. Fig. 2, Sheet2, shows the application to an ordinary multitubular marine boiler. Fig.3 shows a somewhat modified form of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus is fitted within the steam and waterdrum A, into which the steam and water mixed is deliv cred from thefront header by the horizontal pipe and diverted downward by the curvedplate 0. B is the purifying apparatus, open at top above the water-levelWL and shown closed at bottom with a surrounding casing,

as shown by Fig. 1 with a casing or par- 0 tial casing, as shown on Fig.1, open just about the normal water-level with a closed bottom, or itmay be with the bottom partially closed by a plate, as in Fig. 1 Thisvertical vessel 13 is supported within the 5 steam and water drum A andwill preferably be made in pieces, as shown by Fig. 1, Sheet 1, to passthrough the manhole and be put togetherinside. The feedwater from thepump enters at D and passes down the pipe D into the drum B. The top ofthe pipe D is formed with two or more nozzles E, branching raspacesupported upon the stays, the construction and operation being similar.

In boilers where there is no combined steam and water drum suitable toreceive the apparatus I propose tofit it in a separate drum, as shown byFig. 3, Sheet 2, outside of and separate from the main boiler, (eitherhorizontal or vertical,) in which E is the purifier,

.comprising an internal casing 13, perforated at top, D the feed-inlet,G the feed-outlet, K a pipe to admit steam from the boiler, and F thescum-pipe, fitted with cock F. Into this separate vessel, which is inconnection with the main boiler steam and water spaces, as described,the feed-water will be pumped and after being purified and partiallyheated will pass into the boiler.

The purifying apparatus in either form is practically automatic in itsaction, only requiring the scum-cock to be opened at proper intervals,depending upon the original impurityof the Water.

I declare that what I claim is 1. In a feed-Water purifier, thecombination of a vessel, a feed-water inlet at the bottom thereof, ablow-off pipe opening into the upper portion of said vessel, said vesselhaving an opening at the top communicating with the steam-space of theboiler, and a water-outlet in said vessel for delivering the feed-waterto the boiler.

2. In afeed-Water purifier, the combination of a vessel, 2. feed-waterinlet at the bottom thereof, said vessel being adapted to be partiallysubmerged in the boiler, an opening in said vessel communicating withthe steamspace of the boiler, a feed-water outlet, and a blow-off outletdepending into said vessel below the water-line thereof.

3. In a feed-water purifier, the combination of a vessel, a feed-waterinlet, a feed-water outlet entering the bottom of said vessel, a

passage adapted to form communication between said vessel and thesteam-space of a boiler, radially-disposed nozzles connected to saidfeed-water inlet, and a blow-01f pipe depending into said vessel.

4. In a feed-water purifier, the combination of a vessel, a casing uponthe outside of said vessel, a feed-water inlet passing through saidcasing and entering the bottom of said vessel, radially-disposed nozzlesconnected to said feed-water inlet, a passage adapted to formcommunication between said vessel and the steam-space of a boiler, and ablow-off pipe having its opening in the upper part of said vesseladapted to carry off the scum and other impurities.

5. In a feed-water purifier, the combination with a boiler, of a casingin communication with the water-space within the boiler, a vesselconnected to said casing, in communication with the steam-chamber of theboiler, a feed-water pipe entering the bottom of said vessel, and abloW-ofif pipe having its opening in the upper part of said vesseladapted to carry off the scum from the feed water, substantially asdescribed.

6. An apparatus for purifying feed-water and liberating the airtherefrom in steam-generators in which the feed-Water of condensed steamentering the boiler passes into the apparatus comprising in combinationa vessel partly submerged below the water-level and partly rising intothe steam-space, with an open top and a closed bottom, through which isinserted an internal pipe connected with the feed-pipe fitted with anozzle by which the impure water has a whirling agitation imparted toit, causing the oil, greasy or other impurities, to be deposited uponthe surface of the water in the purifier and prevented from mixing withthe rest of the boiler-water, and a scumming-pipe for blowing off saiddeposit; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER GR AY.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. GRAY, WILLIAM DAGGETT.

